How to Remove SYNCB/CareCredit From Your Credit Report

SYNCB/CareCredit on your credit report is the spelled-out version of a code you might also see as SYNCB/CARECR. Both refer to the same thing: Synchrony Bank’s CareCredit healthcare financing card. If SYNCB/CareCredit is showing up, it could mean a few different things depending on where it appears on your credit report, and the implications vary significantly based on which type of entry it is.

What Is SYNCB/CareCredit on Your Credit Report?

SYNCB/CareCredit combines Synchrony Bank and CareCredit, a widely used healthcare financing card that helps people cover out-of-pocket medical costs at dental offices, vision centers, veterinary clinics, cosmetic practices, and other healthcare providers. Synchrony Bank is the issuer behind CareCredit and handles all credit decisions and account reporting.

This entry can appear on your credit report in more than one way, and identifying which type you’re dealing with is the most important first step.

Why SYNCB/CareCredit Appears on Your Credit Report

Unlike most entries we cover, SYNCB/CareCredit can show up for three distinct reasons, each with different implications for your credit score:

• Hard inquiry: When you apply for a CareCredit card at a provider’s office or online, Synchrony runs a hard inquiry on your credit report. This shows up whether you were approved or denied and causes a small, temporary dip in your credit score.
• Open or closed account: If your CareCredit application was approved, the account appears as a tradeline on your credit report. An open account in good standing is reported monthly and can positively affect your credit score through on-time payment history and available credit. A closed account in good standing can remain on your credit report for up to 10 years.
• Late payments or delinquencies: If you fell behind on CareCredit payments, Synchrony reports those missed payments to the credit bureaus. Late payments can significantly damage your credit score and remain on your credit report for seven years from the date of the first missed payment.

How SYNCB/CareCredit Affects Your Credit Score

The impact depends entirely on which type of entry you’re dealing with.

A hard inquiry causes a minor dip of a few points that fades quickly. An active account in good standing can help your credit score by building payment history and contributing to your available credit. Late payments or a charge-off are the most damaging scenario, potentially causing a significant drop in your credit score that lingers for years.

If you have an active CareCredit account, keeping the balance low and making on-time payments is one of the most straightforward ways to let the account work in your favor.

How Long SYNCB/CareCredit Stays on Your Credit Report

The timeline varies based on the type of entry:

• Hard inquiries: Remain on your credit report for two years, with the most impact in the first few months.
• Open accounts: Stay on your credit report as long as the account is active and for up to 10 years after closing in good standing.
• Late payments and delinquencies: Remain on your credit report for seven years from the date of the first missed payment.

What to Do If You Don’t Recognize the SYNCB/CareCredit Entry

CareCredit is offered at a vast network of provider locations, so it’s easy to forget applying during a stressful medical or veterinary visit. Think back to any recent healthcare appointments before assuming the entry is unauthorized.

If you genuinely don’t recognize it, here’s what to do:

• Contact Synchrony Bank directly: Ask them to identify which provider location the application or account is associated with and when it was opened. They can tell you whether the entry is connected to your personal information.
• Dispute inaccurate information with the credit bureaus: If the entry contains errors, such as a late payment you didn’t miss or an account you didn’t open, file a formal dispute with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Include supporting documentation and a clear explanation of what’s incorrect.
• Monitor your credit reports regularly: Check all three credit bureaus for any other unfamiliar entries, since unauthorized activity rarely appears in just one place.

CareCredit Contact Information

If you need to reach Synchrony Bank about a SYNCB/CareCredit entry, here is their contact information:

Phone: (866) 893-7864

Mailing Address: Synchrony Bank, P.O. Box 71715, Philadelphia, PA 19176-1715

Bottom Line

SYNCB/CareCredit on your credit report can mean a hard inquiry, an active account, or a history of late payments, and what you should do about it depends on which one applies to you. A hard inquiry will age off in two years. A well-managed account can help your credit score. Late payments are the most serious scenario and require either waiting out the seven-year reporting window or disputing them if the information is inaccurate.

If you don’t recognize the entry at all, contact Synchrony Bank right away and dispute it with the credit bureaus if it can’t be verified as yours.